HONOLULU (AP) — State lawmakers may add a microbe to the state's list of official symbols. The House of Representatives considered the bill on Tuesday, and agreed to bring it up again later this session.

University of Hawai`i professor Stuart Donachie says Hawai`i could be the first state in the nation to adopt an official microbe. Donachie helped discover the proposed microbe along with several other scientists and a student from Iolani High School. The microscopic organism in question is found on a Hawaiian shrub called akia.

Advocates say an official state microbe will promote scientific research in the islands and celebrate the uniqueness of Hawai`i, which already has several state symbols, including a
motto, a flag and a song.